Index heavyweight SBI rose 1.72 per cent, while UCO Bank, IDBI, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Oriental Bank of Commerce, among others, rallied by up to 8.50 per cent.

Market sentiment was bolstered after a monthly survey showed the Indian services sector returned to marginal growth in December as new orders broadly stabilised.

The BSE benchmark Sensex opened higher at 33,912.49 and hovered in a range of 33,995.40 to 33,802.13 before finishing at 33,969.64, showing a gain of 176.26 points or 0.52 per cent.

The gauge had lost 263.45 points in the previous three sessions.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also closed higher by 61.60 points, or 0.59 per cent, at 10,504.80 after shuttling between 10,513 and 10,441.45.

"Positive global cues and improvement in services PMI data for December helped the market move out of the subdued phase of trading.

"Global growth expectation and continued buying in metal stocks raised the market sentiment, while PSU banks outperformed on account of finalisation of recapitalisation," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services.